Convert WAV to MP3 Online
xFormat converts WAV recordings to much smaller MP3 files in your browser, with the file staying on your device the entire time.
Runs in your browser — files never leave your device.
How it works
WAV files are uncompressed and huge. If you just need to share, stream or store a recording, an MP3 is usually all you need. Convert here without uploading a large file first.
- 1
Select your WAV file.
- 2
Choose MP3 as the output, with a bitrate such as 192 or 320 kbps.
- 3
Click Convert and download the MP3.
How much smaller will it be?
CD-quality stereo WAV (44.1 kHz, 16-bit) runs at 1,411 kbps, roughly 10 MB for every minute of audio. At 192 kbps, MP3 needs about 1.4 MB per minute, around one seventh of the size. At 320 kbps it is about 2.4 MB per minute. A 50 MB WAV of a short song might become a 5 MB MP3.
That is why emailing, messaging and uploading to most platforms is far easier with MP3.
When to keep the WAV
MP3 is lossy, so converting is a one-way trip. If you still plan to edit, mix or master the recording, keep the WAV, and make the MP3 only as your final export. Encoding an MP3, editing it and encoding again will degrade quality at each step.
For speech such as interviews and voice-overs, 128 kbps is usually plenty. For music, 192 kbps is a good balance, and 320 kbps is the choice when you want to stay as close as possible to the master.
Limits
Long WAVs add up quickly. Stay under about 500 MB on desktop and 200 MB on phones.
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller is an MP3 than a WAV?
At 192 kbps an MP3 is about one seventh the size of a CD-quality WAV, and at 128 kbps about one eleventh.
Will I hear a difference between WAV and MP3?
At 192 kbps or higher, most listeners cannot tell on typical headphones and speakers. 320 kbps is closest to the original.
Which bitrate should I use?
Use 128 kbps for voice, 192 kbps for general music and 320 kbps for the best MP3 quality.
Is my recording uploaded?
No. The conversion is done locally in your browser.
Can I convert a WAV on my phone?
Yes, but keep files under roughly 200 MB. Long recordings are easier on a computer.